Relevant links for this issue:

Symphonic Chorus auditions

Opening night dinner

2010-2011 season

We have lined up a wonderful selection of varied and vibrant choral music for you for 2010-2011. We are thrilled that this season once again we're able to share the stage with wonderful regional musicians, both vocalists and instrumentalists.

• October 9-10 Music of the Masters features the debut of the Choral Arts Symphonic Chorus in our presentation of Beethoven's Mass in C. We will have a fine orchestra accompanying us, as well as soloists Carla Thelen Hanson, Hyounsoo Sohn, Brian Pfaltzgraff and Bill Schmidt. Also on the program are Mozart's Regina Coeli and Handel's Coronation Anthem No. 4-Let Thy Hand Be Strengthened.
  
  
• December 10-12 Christmas with Choral Arts Ensemble will be extra special this year as we close out our 10-year series of Mary Joyce Frantz Memorial Christmas Carols. The 10th and final carol has been written by Philip Lawson, and its premiere will be featured as well as a new Magnificat by Edward Zeliff. We will also look back at several of the other fine MJF Carols premiered since 2001, and guest cellist Eric Kutz of Luther College will join us on several pieces for choir and cello.
  
  
• March 5, 2010 As mentioned, our collaboration with other arts groups is something Choral Arts Ensemble values and enjoys immensely, so once again we are pleased to be combining with another fine regional choir, the Ames Chamber Artists, led by James Rodde of Iowa State University. They will travel to Rochester on March 5 to join us in concert, and we'll follow them back down to Ames on March 6. There are also two premieres on this program, one by Commissioning Contest winner Timothy Takach and the other by Craig Carnahan, who donated a commission to our Singing Valentine Benefit last February.
  
  
• May 14-15 Choral Landscapes takes us first to Seville, Spain, as guitarist Jeffrey Van accompanies CAE on Tedesco's Romancero Gitano (Gypsy Ballad Book). We'll also do more choir/guitar works as well as premiere a new work by Mack Wilberg.
  
  

Join us on October 9 for our Opening Night dinner, held 5:30 in the auditorium at Assisi Heights prior to the 7:30 pm concert in Lourdes Chapel. Your preferred seats will be reserved for you, so you can relax and enjoy a fine meal with friends. You will also be among the first to learn of the 2010 Kvam Choral Advocacy Award winners, which will be announced that evening at the Opening Night dinner. Tickets are $150/person including a concert ticket or $125/person if you've already ordered season tickets.

Sopranos and altos hard at work on the fugues.

Thank you to everyone who came out to sing or listen or play on July 13. It was an enjoyable evening as we tackled the wonderful musical challenges of Mozart. Next year, we sing in English! July 12, 2011, choruses from Messiah.